Disc not ejected properly

I run a MBP 16" M1 2021, MacOS 14.2.1 Sonoma. I've had this problem for some months, but never in my early ownership of this box. I've read a lot of responses to this problem (maybe not universal, but inconvenient). I'm resigned to it occurring sporadically, i.e., nobody's got a complete fix, and have this few steps to address it.

1. I need to kill the Notification Center process
2. Open the Activity Monitor [Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor]
3. Search in upper R corner for "notif" or so
4. See the resulting list of Process Names, including "Notification Center. Click it
5. Click the Stop button [X] and choose "Force Quit". Most of the duplicated Notifications on the desktop will disappear.
6. Return to your desktop where there may still be a half dozen of the "disc not ejected properly" notifications. These must be deleted individually.

This situation occurs for me about every month. No pattern but always overnight when the MBP is asleep. I used to think it was due to variations in power that triggered lost connection to external drives. IDK. My whole system runs through 2 UPS backups.

You might consider creating an alias of the Activity Monitor app (I did) and keep it on your desktop or a custom menu for quick access.

Troubleshooting Disk Ejecting Errors:

"Disc not ejected properly: [...]Beginning 10 days ago each time the laptop wakes from sleep I get the "disc not ejected properly" message. I'm wondering why that's suddenly happening when it hasn't all along."

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Troubleshooting Disk Ejecting Errors

Have you just installed an update? If so, it seems to be an update bug going around. So, report it to Apple. See here: how come my m1 macbook ejects my external hard drives when it goes to sleep? - Apple Community

Report this as a Bug to Apple:

Do your Part: Inform Apple of your feedback of this issue. Include how you’ve troubleshot this, and your results. Apple wont get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive from its users, the more likely they will know what needs to be fixed, and what bug fixes to include in update to come.

1. Go Here: Feedback - macOS - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Select: "Software/Firmware Update" for the "Feedback Area"
4. Comment: on when you came across this issue, and how you have troubleshot it thus far. Include the URL of this thread.
5. Proceed from there as necessary

jrp in rochester Said:

"Here's what I saw today upon waking the laptop."

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Troubleshooting Connection Issues:

Thank you for the screenshot.

A. Reset the SMC and your NVRAM:

(Applies to Intel-Based Macs Only): Seems it may not be reading as it should from the USB ports. Sometimes when changes are made to the system(i.e. Updates), system configurations (i.e. for USB) become manipulated, technically. So, reset the SMC and your NVRAM. Try performing each thrice. It may take sometime, being certain you have the time to perform these resets.

B. Remount the Drive:

1. Click: the Desktop
2. Click: Go menu
3. Select: Utilities
4. Open: Disk Utility
5. Click: Unmount button
6. Click: Mount button

Troubleshooting Disk Ejecting Errors:

"Disc not ejected properly: No, no recent update. Matter of fact; I see this morning that even though I followed your safe mode suggestion, ’did eject the disc before sleeping’, I still got the same message 12 times!”

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Reply with a Screenshot:

Please provide a screenshot of this message. Doing so would most certain help. Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support

Try unchecking the option for "Put drives to sleep when possible". Depending on the version of macOS being used, this setting may be located in the Battery, or Energy Saver System Preferences/Settings. If the setting is not there on Ventura, then try using the Search bar in the System Settings app to locate this setting. I know this has helped a lot of people, but it doesn't work for everyone.

The ability for external drives to remain connected when the computer sleeps & wakes has always been problematic depending on the exact model of the drive, how it is connected, any intervening docks/hubs/adapters involved, plus even the computer (hardware or OS) can sometimes affect it.

Running Catalina but it's been doing it for years. It just gives the alert but does not eject the drive. It's an annoyance but I can't find a way to stop it. If anyone knows of a way thanks in advance for posting.

Mike

Mike Royal wrote:

It just gives the alert but does not eject the drive.

It sounds like your issue is slightly different than the OP's so please create your own new thread if you want assistance with your issue. The OP is reporting that their drive is being ejected, while your issue is the drive is NOT being ejected.

Troubleshooting Disk Ejecting Errors:

"Disc not ejected properly: Hi. Sorry I haven't responded to your reply. Was out of grid for a time. I've gone through those steps 3x each. Now will just see what happens. Thank you for your guidance.”

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You are welcome.

Let us know if it works out.

There might be a Terminal command for this, or something you could write in AppleScript to get it to work.

I would also recommend trying this in Safe Mode, or creating another user, and eject it through that.

Same, over and over and over - AAAAUUUURRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!